The nude is one of the most enduring subjects in the history of art. During the 19th century Realist movement in France, artists like Manet questioned the mythology surrounding the traditional representation of the nude. Manet used Titian’s “Venus of Urbino” as a template for his “Olympia”, but made significant changes in the way the nude is represented. Write an short essay comparing these two paintings.
In your answer consider the following:
How are the bodies of the two women painted differently?
How is the attitude of the women represented differently?
How is the setting of the two works different?
How does the female nude interact with the viewer differently?
